One "Rrose Sélavy" suggests in comments at J.T. Kirkland's site that the $10,000 Trawick Prize was unethically awarded to Jiha Moon, as the artist is currently exhibiting at Andrea Pollan's Curator's Office. Pollan served as one of three jurors for the Trawick.
First off—if you're going to allege that highly respected members of the local arts community have acted with impropriety, put a name to your accusation. Don't be a coward. Second, it usually takes no more than one phone call to verify the facts in a situation like this. Case in point, I just got off the phone with Stephanie Coppula of the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, a PR staff member from the group that facilitates the Trawick Prize, and she gave me the significant details: namely, that Andrea Pollan recused herself from the jury once Jiha Moon became a semifinalist. Pollan only juried the initial round of nearly 400 entries. It's completely unexceptional that a local arts professional would have a relationship with some number of artists from a pool of 400; indeed, it's hard to conceive of the qualified juror who wasn't a part of the arts community. When that group was narrowed to 32, and Jiha Moon emerged among that number, Pollan stepped down. From there the other jurors selected the 10 finalists. Pollan never casted a dubious vote for Moon—no question, she acted ethically.
Pollan has proved her commitment to the District art scene over many years; "Sélavy"—I'm confident that I know his identity (and it ain't Marcel)—has not. It would be one thing had Sélavy simply asked about a potential ethics infringement; Kirkland's site attracts many local artists and art fans, and his comments section could serve as a good place to ask about a hunch like that. But writing from the safety of a psuedonym, Sélavy ditches common courtesy (and anything resembling journalistic inquiry), opting instead for inflammatory denunciations. Without making so much as a single phone call.
The comments are open as always, but I'm not tolerating any anonymous feedback in this post. (If you use a handle here regularly, you're OK.) Anonymous grenade tossing has become something of a regular feature in the District, but when it comes to a person's career, close isn't good enough.
UPDATE: It should be clear from comments, but in case you're not usually inclined to read them, Catriona Fraser (chair of the Trawick Prize) and Andrea Pollan each left notes to clarify the timeline. I misunderstood how early into the first round Pollan bowed out. Mea culpa.
Posted by Kriston at September 19, 2005 4:25 PMGood post K, and thanks for clearing this up. Too many people are quick to talk s&#t when they can hide behind interweb-anonymity.
I wish you would blow the cover of Ms. Selavy...
Posted by: w craghead at September 19, 2005 4:34 PMCool KC...I had sent an email to Andrea alerting her as well.
Great that Stephanie responded so quickly.
Tossing granades ... anonymously ... indeed! So lame.
Kriston,
As the Chair of the Trawick Prize, I just wanted to thank you nipping this in the bud.
Also, I wanted to clarify the fact that Andrea recused herself from judging Jiha's work at every stage of the process, including the first round.
I'd be really interested to know who is questioning the integrity of this wonderful opportunity for visual artists in our area. I have never seen anyone as happy to give their own money away to support artists as Carol Trawick does, twice a year.
Dear Kriston,
I only heard about this tempest from Faith tonight at a booksigning. I wish to clarify the story for your readers.
First of all, I was never contacted by anyone questioning my role in the jurying process.
Earlier in the summer, we convened a session of the jury. I told my co-jurors that I had applied to the Scope Art Fair (during the internationally important Miami Basel Art Fair) with Jiha Moon's work and felt I had to recuse myself from voting for her.
At that time, I had a different project scheduled at Curator's Office for September and October. That artist had to delay his show/project because his father had a stroke and his project was proving to be expensive. We both agreed he needed more time.
So, I scrambled and asked Jiha whether she would like to show in September. I knew she had enough works. Mind you, this was back in early summer. She agreed.
During the rest of the jurying process, I insisted on recusing myself on a vote for Jiha Moon.
The fact that Olga Viso and Thom Collins were both so enthusiastic about her work and awarded her the Trawick prize was purely a wonderful and synchronistic coincidence of timing.
Although it may appear suspect to people who do not know the "behind-the-scenes" story about this, I pride myself on trying to avoid conflict of interests. I have worked in the non-profit field for many years and did a fellowship at the NEA, where such issues were constantly driven home to us. I would never have placed my reputation, nor the reputation of an artist whose work I admire and respect at risk. I hope your audience understands this.
Next time....the anonymous "selavy" might wish to make a fact-checking journalistic phone call before the reputations of hard-working curators and artists get sullied. It only furthers the reputation of DC as being so provincial when such nonsense goes on.
Thanks for your time,
Andrea Pollan
Posted by: Andrea Pollan at September 20, 2005 9:26 PMSelavy's bad. But through comment boards, a blogger gave him a forum and legitimized his screed. In the world of print journalism/publishing, that's an equal offense. Should be in the blogosphere too. (And I'd bet that's how the law comes down once there's a test case. Publishing is publishing.)
Posted by: Tyler Green at September 21, 2005 7:48 AMThanks again, Catriona, for your comments—and thanks, Andrea, for you comments and e-mail. I appreciate the correction re: the judging rounds. Ms. Coppula was helpful when I first spoke with her, especially for having to respond to me as I was explaining to her what was going on in JT's comments. But I walked away with a different understanding about the rounds, so mea culpa.
I'm glad the post in small part helped to shush Mr. Sélavy. I also hate to the worst tendencies of the Internet reflect so poorly on the District art community.
Posted by: Kriston at September 22, 2005 5:13 PMKriston,
It's refreshing to see somebody express a "mea culpa" when making a mistake (even if it's a relatively minor mistake). Too bad Selavy wasn't man (woman?) enough to do the same.
Scott
Your Blog is so sweet! Your posts give me ideas and I start really thinking. Thank you!
Posted by: Manual Horsford at March 27, 2011 1:21 AMExcellent post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed! Extremely useful information specially the last part :) I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
Posted by: forums.bleachexile.com/member.php?u=193204 at April 10, 2011 1:30 PMHey , Great site! How did you make it? Was It Wordpress? Or a Static site! Anyway , it looks' pretty nice! Also thanks for the info. Thanks -Rob
Posted by: Andrew A. Sailer at June 29, 2011 1:29 PMI love reading your post! Great information and it is also very well written. I will bookmark and comeback soon.
Posted by: Marcellus Carbonneau at June 30, 2011 12:27 AM